Skyhawks’ offense comes alive in rout of Eldorado

Silverado’s normally solid defensive unit lived up to its reputation Saturday morning against Eldorado.

But the Skyhawks' offense showed it may be even more of a concern for the rest of the Southeast League.

Seventh-ranked Silverado racked up 512 yards and scored on six of its first seven possessions while storming to a 61-14 home victory over the Sundevils.

Izaiah Thurmon led the Skyhawks with 147 yards on 12 carries, including touchdown runs of 34, 15 and 7 yards.

Thurmon, who had six carries of 12 yards or more, said he had little difficulty running the ball.

“I can’t describe it, it’s just so easy,” said Thurmon, who has rushed for five TDs in Silverado’s first two games. “My team put in work and I put in work. We were out there working together, and it’s easy.”

Adding to the Skyhawks’ ground assault was Steven Scamorza, who had three carries for 132 yards, including a key touchdown run.

Eldorado quarterback JaQuorrey Williams scored on an 11-yard run to cut Silverado’s lead to 14-7 with 3:43 left in the first quarter. But on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Scamorza took a toss and rumbled 80 yards for a touchdown — with Thurmon clearing a path as a blocker — to put the Skyhawks back in control, 21-7.

“I knew he wanted to score, so I was just trying to help a buddy out and do some lead blocking,” Thurmon said.

Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said it was good to see so many different players contribute.

“I’m glad to see we have different guys who can go in and we don’t seem to be losing a step,” Ostolaza said. “And I like the balance we have right now between passing and running.”

The Skyhawks threw for 199 yards against Eldorado. Savon Moniz hit eight of 14 targets for 131 yards and a touchdown.

But Moniz still felt the effects of a leg injury he suffered last week and split time at quarterback with Garren Albright.

Albright added 68 yards in the air, including a 41-yard scoring strike to Ladale Jackson that bounced off the Sundevil defender’s hands at the 15 yard line before Jackson collected the rebound and scored.

Despite his team’s offensive clinic, Ostolaza said his team was not what he was most impressed by Saturday.

“I actually came away more impressed with (Eldorado’s) Williams than with what we did,” he said. “That is an amazing, amazing player. That kid made us look bad a lot of times today.”

Williams threw for 190 yards and a TD and rushed for 45 and a score, accounting for all but 50 of the Sundevils’ total yards. He endured six sacks from the Silverado defense, but escaped at least four others with his mobility.

On two of those plays he scrambled for first downs, and on two others he connected on long passes.

Brett Vanorden was his top target on the day, catching five passes for 110 yards.

But Silverado had too many weapons for Williams and Eldorado to overcome. In addition to the offensive onslaught, the Skyhawk defense scored on Alec Acevedo’s 41-yard interception return, and the special teams added second-half touchdowns on a kickoff return (Scamorza for 86 yards) and a punt return (Dominic Molina for 52 yards).

Thurmon said he is confident the Skyhawks will play well as they begin Southeast play Thursday at home against Liberty.

“We just have to prepare well,” said Thurmon, whose team outscored its first two opponents 89-14. “We have a lot of threats on offense, and we have a pretty good defense. I feel pretty good.”